What should we call this narrative format? This question followed me everywhere for a while. The correct name seems to be up for debate, though not through direct argumentation.
In fact, no one directly argues about it, yet you’ll still find wildly different names if you search online.
In Search of a Question
This proves fascinating precisely because its definition is extraordinarily simple:
A literary work appearing in installments.
But I, like those in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who had an answer in search of a question, was left with a definition in need of a title.
Initially, I chose “serial prose” as my umbrella term. It certainly seemed to capture most of the essence, in my opinion. But I had to reconsider when I recognized that comics and sequential art rely on identical storytelling structures. And that pushed me further down the rabbit hole: For example, what about the DNA it shares with television plotting techniques?
So I went back to the drawing board, and please don't mind my, er, depth of coverage on the various terms I ran through, which are still (despite said comprehensiveness) far from exhaustive. I have a tendency to overdo it in this department.
Terminology
Like any living tradition, serialized storytelling has accumulated a thicket of names. Here's why none of them quite work, and what I settled on instead.
Web comic, web novel, or web serial
Definition: A web serial is a story published in chapter-by-chapter releases online, often on blogs or dedicated platforms, where readers follow along over time and sometimes interact with the author directly.
The Issue: It severs the form from its roots. Serial writers are participating in a long and proud tradition, one that predates the internet by centuries, and "web serial" erases that lineage entirely. It also implies that print serials are something categorically different, when they're not.
Light novel
Definition: Light novels are short, fast-paced novels aimed mainly at young adults, often featuring anime-style illustrations, and usually part of a series.
The Issue: Too narrow to be useful here. The term has Japanese-origin publishing conventions baked into it, and describes a particular flavor of serial fiction rather than the tradition as a whole.
Serial novel, serialized fiction, or serial fiction
Definition: A narrative released in sequential installments over time rather than all at once, appearing in magazines, newspapers, or online platforms.
The Issue: Probably the best of the bunch, and the most widely used. My only objection is practical: in usage, these phrases are interchangeable with the term I eventually settled on, just wordier.
Episodic storytelling, episodic fiction, or episodic literature
Definition: A narrative structure made up of self-contained episodes or chapters, each with its own mini-arc, which can often be read in any order or in isolation.
The Issue: Too specific. Episodic describes a structural choice, not a publishing format. Plenty of serials are deeply continuous; plenty of non-serials are episodic. The terms describe different things.
Installment-based storytelling
Definition: A narrative format in which a story is released in separate parts over time, each contributing to the overall plot and often ending in suspense to retain audience interest.
The Issue: At this point, we've left the realm of useful terminology and entered a corporate style guide.
So I went back to basics. Stories in this format are serials, a clean, historically grounded word that carries the full weight of the tradition without the baggage.
Why "Serial" Fits Every Synonym Perfectly
Calling them serials, whether serial prose, serialized fiction, web fiction, web novels, web serials, episodic literature, or their visual cousins webcomics, cuts through the noise.
The way I see it, a serial is one unified story delivered in pieces over time. Each installment delivers satisfaction on its own while advancing characters, plot threads, and stakes. The format builds anticipation the way great television does: hooks, mini-climaxes, strategic reveals, and that irresistible pull toward the next release.
Historicity
This storytelling approach isn't some passing trend. Its roots run deep and command respect.
In the 19th century, periodicals turned storytelling into a cultural event. Like mentioning Walt Disney when discussing animation in film, one can't escape mentioning Charles Dickens launching the phenomenon in earnest with The Pickwick Papers in 1836-1837 when discussing serials, which reached a peak of selling 40,000 copies a month.
Other giants like Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo (which, if you've ever read, you can absolutely tell was written like a TV series) and Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone are more direct chapter by chapter ancestors, but also pulp fiction titles could be considered spiritual ancestors to light novels like the Aubrey–Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian or the Barsoom series Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Read more about the history behind serials in our dedicated blog post.
The Digital Revolution
The spiritual successors to Dickens's serials and dime novels didn't appear in newspapers or magazines. They appeared online.
With the arrival of the internet, authors could publish directly to readers for the first time in history, with no editor gate-keeping their work, no printing costs, and no distribution problems to solve.
Anyone, anywhere could write and reach a global audience. And publish they did.
The results speak for themselves. Wildbow's Worm, a superhero novel released chapter by chapter on a personal blog, became a cult phenomenon with a dedicated global fanbase.
TurtleMe's The Beginning After The End racked up millions of views across multiple platforms before becoming a bestselling print series.
E.L. James's Fifty Shades of Grey began as Twilight fan fiction posted online before becoming one of the bestselling novels of the 21st century.
Andy Weir self-published The Martian in installments on his personal website, charged nothing for it, collected it into a Kindle ebook, published it for $0.99, and watched it hit the Amazon bestseller list and become a Hollywood film.
Each of these authors went from writing for free online to earning millions.
Those are just the success stories that broke into mainstream consciousness. Around them, dozens of platforms host millions of ongoing serials in dozens of languages, representing a staggering volume of creative output and readership that mainstream publishing has barely begun to tap into.
The gatekeepers didn't disappear. They just became optional.
Why Serials Work
The enduring appeal of the serial, whether in a 19th-century pamphlet or on a 21st-century smartphone, isn't accidental. It taps into fundamental aspects of how we enjoy stories:
- Builds Anticipation & Community: The wait between installments creates buzz, speculation, and discussion. Readers form communities around theories and shared excitement, a phenomenon equally visible in Victorian literary circles and modern Discord servers.
- Allows for Dynamic Creation: Authors can gauge audience reaction and refine their story as it unfolds.
- Lowers the Barrier to Entry: A short, free, or inexpensive chapter is an easy commitment. It’s the “try before you buy” model of storytelling, inviting readers to get hooked on the voice and premise before investing in a full novel or premium content.
- Mimics Natural Storytelling Rhythms: Much like television seasons or ghost stories told over a campfire, serials mirror the human habit of experiencing stories in segments, making large narratives feel more digestible and integrated into daily life.
The Enduring Magic and Future of Serials
In the age of instant everything, serials offer both quick fixes and anticipation. They honor a proud lineage while welcoming fresh voices experimenting with serial fiction, episodic fiction, web comics, web novels, and every synonym in between.
The format continues to evolve. More and more authors are banking on Substack newsletters now. Mainstream authors like Brandon Sanderson released his "Secret Projects" novels (including Tress of the Emerald Sea and Yumi and the Nightmare Painter) in installments to his Kickstarter backers. Platforms continue to add more and more multimedia features. Yet the core stays constant: There is one larger narrative, released incrementally, that is more than the sum of its parts.
Interested in publishing your own? Let’s talk.